New seed shows Apple near wrap-up of Mac OS X 10.5.6

A quickly released follow-up test build of Mac OS X 10.5.6 comes with no known problems and points to Apple getting much closer to a finished patch.

Build 9G38, whose seed notes were posted online late Saturday by HMBT, is said by Apple to have no known issues and comes just three days after build 9G35, which had only only a few problems to target of its own.

The removal of any known glitches from these lists isn't by itself an indication that 10.5.6 is ready but does show Apple in the very last stages of its development cycle, which usually only leave a small amount of testing for those areas of the software the company believes may still contain hidden bugs.

Apple's fixed item list is relatively small and touches on synching as a whole, problems with DVI output and the Superdrive, and downloading playlists.

As with the version released earlier in the week, 9G38 is said to focus on MobileMe and the automatic sync process, especially with those networks where lag and bandwidth are known concerns. It also asks testers to check transfer performance when they sync from Me.com rather than a computer or a mobile device.

An extra focus is on sending mail either partly or entirely in non-Latin languages, such as Chinese or Hangul. Apple's engineering team also reportedly wants to hear of any problems that hard-lock the system in a kernel panic or freeze.

The new test code continues to have a very broad scope and lists over 80 apps or system components one which Apple wants to focus; this is one of Apple's most ambitious yet for its roughly year-old operating system.

I was gonna buy the new macbook the day it came out, but after seeing the prices/specs, soon came to the conclusion that the white macbook is getting scrapped, and the current models are being priced down in January.

but most importantly, i'm thinking there will be some new software upgrade in January.
i'm hoping

I was gonna buy the new macbook the day it came out, but after seeing the prices/specs, soon came to the conclusion that the white macbook is getting scrapped, and the current models are being priced down in January.

but most importantly, i'm thinking there will be some new software upgrade in January.
i'm hoping

Refreshed iMacs, Mac Pros, and (hopefully) Mac Minis. Possibly definite, concrete news and demos of Snow Leopard. Also, I wouldn't be surprised to see a new version of iLife and/or iWork, maybe Aperture or Final Cut (probably not, though), and please (PLEASE, Apple) iPhone push notification that was promised for September!!

As far as the white MacBook getting axed, I tend to agree with you, but I highly doubt they will drop the prices of the current aluminum models. They will probably replace the white MacBook with an aluminum model with the same specs (sans FireWire, of course \ ) and keep it at $999, or possibly bump it back up to $1099. Keeping the white MacBook had all the signs of an end-of-life inventory dump, and it just doesn't mesh with the rest of the Mac line (aluminum, glass, etc.)

I was gonna buy the new macbook the day it came out, but after seeing the prices/specs, soon came to the conclusion that the white macbook is getting scrapped, and the current models are being priced down in January.

but most importantly, i'm thinking there will be some new software upgrade in January.
i'm hoping

Most likely a new Mac Mini and iMac.

The Mac Pro and xServe could use some polish and might see an upgrades at MacWorld.

Software-wise don't expect much. iLife and iWork will come out with new version with Snow Leopard in June. MobileMe might get some slight tweaks and additions.

MacWorld looks like it will be a ho-hum deal. No new iPhones or iPods are expected, but maybe a new release of the iPhone OS.

AppleTV might see its third remaking. Unless Apple buys El Gato and incorporates PVR that will be another so-so announcement. If Apple merges the AppleTV and Mac Mini foregoing the optical drive that would be something.

AppleTV might see its third remaking. Unless Apple buys El Gato and incorporates PVR that will be another so-so announcement. If Apple merges the AppleTV and Mac Mini foregoing the optical drive that would be something.

As nice as that would be, it would compete directly with the iTS and piss off every single network. I do think we'll eventually see an El Gato USB solution but only through an XMBC/Boxee-type hack.

I had originally thought they'd refresh those in the weeks leading up to Christmas, but with Macworld being pretty early this year (starts the 5th) and Apple confirming their product line is "set", I guess they will be part of the show, albeit a pretty small part (unless they redesign the Mac mini, iMac, and/or Mac Pro).

Quote:

Originally Posted by hittrj01

Possibly definite, concrete news and demos of Snow Leopard.

I'm guessing (and hoping) a Snow Leopard demo will be one of the major highlights of the show. I remember when they demoed Leopard at WWDC and then showed what it really looked like - translucent Menu Bar, 3D Dock, unified window borders, etc. - at Macworld the following January (if my chronology is correct). The chances of this happening again are high, but the differences in Leopard and Snow Leopard will be more subtle. I just want to hear Jobs say "oh and one more thing...NO MORE AQUA."

Quote:

Originally Posted by hittrj01

Also, I wouldn't be surprised to see a new version of iLife and/or iWork, maybe Aperture or Final Cut (probably not, though)

Very likely. I personally wonder if they'll finally stop dating their iLife and iWork suites with '07, '08, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hittrj01

and please (PLEASE, Apple) iPhone push notification that was promised for September!!

As far as the white MacBook getting axed, I tend to agree with you, but I highly doubt they will drop the prices of the current aluminum models.

Or maybe we'll see a more revised Air instead, with a glass, black-bordered display, glass, buttonless trackpad, and perhaps the rumored partial carbon fiber body. The slightly revised ones released a few weeks ago are nice, but they feel like a stopgap measure. Plus, they're not nearly as compelling as they once were now that the MacBook is aluminum, less than an inch thick, and only a pound and a half heavier than the Air.

Refreshed iMacs, Mac Pros, and (hopefully) Mac Minis. Possibly definite, concrete news and demos of Snow Leopard. Also, I wouldn't be surprised to see a new version of iLife and/or iWork, maybe Aperture or Final Cut (probably not, though), and please (PLEASE, Apple) iPhone push notification that was promised for September!!

As far as the white MacBook getting axed, I tend to agree with you, but I highly doubt they will drop the prices of the current aluminum models. They will probably replace the white MacBook with an aluminum model with the same specs (sans FireWire, of course \ ) and keep it at $999, or possibly bump it back up to $1099. Keeping the white MacBook had all the signs of an end-of-life inventory dump, and it just doesn't mesh with the rest of the Mac line (aluminum, glass, etc.)

Well. If they drop the white MacBook my best bet is that they scrap the white one. But do you think they can still keep the mid level MacBook at 2.0ghz? or shift down the models.to where you're now paying 1099 for the current midlevel MacBook etc?